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Press Statement

by Lim Guan Eng

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(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should demand a full and fresh explanation from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak why he hid the fact that he had met Altatunya Shaariibuu personally and hold a full inquiry why Prosecution Witness Uuriintuya Gal-Ochir”s entry on 8 October 2006 into Malaysia was deleted from the Immigration Department’s computer records. 

During testimony in Altatunya’s murder trial, one of the prosecution witness Uuriintuya had demanded an explanation why her entry records into Malaysia on October 8 2006 was deleted from the Immigration Department’s computer records. Why has the Immigration Department maintained a loud silence despite such serious claims in court that is not rebutted by the prosecution? 

The Immigration Department should give a full explanation how entry records could be deleted, make a full apology and carry out the necessary corrections if a mistake is made. If indeed there was manipulation, then the harshest action possible including imprisonment, should be imposed on the immigration officers who abused their powers. Any failure to do so would only lend weight to suspicions of a conspiracy to cover-up in high places in view of public knowledge that one of the accused, Abdul Razak Baginda is a close political strategist for Najib. 

Such claims of deleting computer records have disturbed not just Malaysians but also the international community that such basic information can be manipulated at will.  Unless the allegations are rebuttted, Malaysia’s standing in the foreign intelligence community fighting international terrorism will be adversely affected as unreliable and faulty or worse even suspected for being severely compromised. 

The Immigration Department can make loud denials but Malaysians will believe such claims of tampering and manipulation in the Malaysia Boleh spirit. Malaysian security agencies have lost all public credibiltiy and moral integrity following the murder of Altatunya using C4 explosives by the elite police Unit Tindakan Khas(UTK) personnel guarding the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister. C4 explosives in Malaysia is only available in the Defence Ministery or UTK units.

For this reason the latest revelations in court yesterday by another prosecution witness, Burmaa Oyunchimeg, has caused an uproar not only in court of the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial yesterday but also throughout the country. Burmaa told the court that Razak and Altantuya went to France and Italy together and after the trip, Altantuya met her in Hong Kong where she was shown the photograph. 

Najib’s claims that he had never met Altatunya directly contradicts the testimony of Burmaa who claimed that she saw a photograph that showed Altantuya, Abdul Razak Baginda and Najib having a meal together. In the interests of integrity, accountability and the political principle that “political leaders must not only be clean and truthful but also seen to be clean and truthful”, Abdullah should demand a fresh explanation from Najib. 

Any failure to come clean quickly will deal a fatal blow on Abdullah’s efforts to establish integrity and justice in his administration, when he is seen as more intent in covering up than in discovering the truth. Abdullah should take heed that such attempts by the prosecution or government authorities to cover up to protect certain VIPs would be counter-productive and lead to more exposes that will undermine the credibility of his government.